Two people were killed and six others injured after gunfire rang out at a Jackson nightclub early Sunday morning.
Officers responded to a shooting call at The Hideaway at approximately 1 a.m. Upon arrival, officers found multiple people suffering from gunshot wounds.
Two victims, identified as 20-year-old Lovdia Poindexter and 18-year-old Jada Henderson, were pronounced dead at the scene. Police said their next of kin have been notified.
Six other victims were transported to local hospitals with injuries that appeared to be non-life-threatening. They include four females, ages 18, 18, 19, and 20, and two males, ages 19 and 20.
Jackson State University President Dr. Denise Jones Gregory acknowledged that students were among the victims in an email sent to the student body Sunday. She expressed support for the impacted students and their families. The university announced that all undergraduate classes are canceled Monday and Tuesday.
According to preliminary findings shared by the Jackson Police Department, two unidentified men wearing ski masks entered the club shortly before the shooting. At least one of the suspects then pulled out a firearm and opened fire on a crowd gathered on the dance floor, police said.
The motive for the shooting remains unclear.
Detectives interviewed witnesses at the scene, while evidence technicians recovered and documented multiple shell casings. Investigators are also working to obtain surveillance footage from the area and identify the suspects.
Anyone with information about the incident or suspects is asked to contact JPD at (601) 960-1800 or Crime Stoppers at (601) 355-8477.